FSU Law Focus newsletter
December 14, 2018

From the Dean

Alum Christin Gonzalez ('11) talks to students about marital and family law during a Career Services lunch event.
As we wrap up the fall 2018 semester, we would like to thank the many alumni, friends and scholars who visited the law school to speak with our students. The semester included an array of substantive enrichment events, including our Fall 2018 Environmental Distinguished Lecturer Nina Mendelson, the Joseph L. Sax Collegiate Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School; a Business Law Panel presented by our student Business Law Society; a session featuring alumni practitioners presented by our student Association for Criminal Justice; a timely panel discussion, Hog Farming: Past, Present & Future; a panel of criminal law attorneys hosted by our Black Law Students Association; and many more speakers who visited through our environmental law certificate enrichment lecture series. Our Raising the Bar Professionalism events featured many engaged alumni, as did our Career Services programming. These events provided students with valuable tools as they begin to form their professional identities and with knowledge on practicing in various areas. In November, we also welcomed alums Justice Alan Lawson (’87) and the Honorable Claudia Isom (’75) when the Florida Supreme Court Standing Committee on Fairness and Diversity held a Lunch and Learn for faculty and students at the law school. Earlier this week, American Bar Association President Bob Carlson visited with a host of other distinguished guests for a Disaster Roundtable. The value of a legal education at FSU Law would not be as strong without the involvement and support of our alumni and friends. Thank you for remaining so engaged with our students!

- Dean Erin O'Connor
Faculty Profile: Elizabeth Farrell Clifford
Elizabeth Farrell Clifford
Elizabeth Farrell Clifford is director of the Research Center at the Florida State University College of Law. Farrell Clifford teaches Technology for Lawyers, Advanced Legal Research, and Introduction to Legal Studies and Research. Her professional interests include the intersection of technology and the practice of law, legal research pedagogy and innovative library services. Farrell Clifford is a frequent speaker on the topic of legal technology education. She is also an active member of the American Association of Law Libraries, where she serves on the editorial board of the AALL Spectrum journal. Prior to entering academia, Farrell Clifford was a legal consultant at LexisNexis for four years. She earned her B.S. and J.D. from the University of Cincinnati and M.S. in library and information science from Florida State University. 
“As a law librarian, it doesn’t get much better than being part of a community like FSU Law. Every day I get to engage with bright, motivated students, support top-notch faculty scholarship and work with a great group of service-oriented individuals in the Research Center. I am so grateful for the opportunity to support the educational mission and scholarly work of the College of Law.”
Alum Profile: Rebecca Bandy (’05) 
Rebecca Bandy directs the Henry Latimer Center for Professionalism at The Florida Bar. As director, Bandy leads the Center in its mission to promote the fundamental ideals and values of the justice system within the legal system, and to instill those ideals of character, civility, competence, and commitment in all lawyers, judges and law students. She speaks to legal groups around the state on professionalism, emotional intelligence, mindfulness, mentoring, and mental health and wellness. Before joining the Center, Bandy was an advanced placement teacher at Lawton Chiles High School and practiced at Powell & Mack in Tallahassee, where she focused on family law, criminal defense and personal injury cases. She also previously served as director of alumni relations at the FSU College of Business and assistant director of alumni relations and development at FSU Law. Bandy remains engaged with the College of Law and often speaks to students about professionalism. Most recently, in October, she presented an interactive workshop, “Why Emotional Intelligence Matters.”
“FSU College of Law means the world to me. I am a first-generation college graduate, so my law school education and bar membership are extremely valuable. My late-grandmother’s last words to me before she passed when I was a 1L were, ‘My granddaughter’s going to be a lawyer!’ That is a priceless memory. FSU Law opened up unimaginable opportunities for me, connecting me with our amazing alumni network; and, the faculty and staff have continued to be supportive throughout my professional career. I know that my law degree represents the absolute best legal education and training available, and I am always honored and proud to give back.”

Student Profile: 3L Laurel Tallent

Laurel Tallent
Desired Practice Location: Has grown fond of Tallahassee, but is willing to relocate
Expected Graduation: May 2019
Field of Law Sought: Greatly interested in environmental law, animal law and sustainability; would like to use her voice as a lawyer to speak out for the voiceless, both animals and the environment


Originally from Crystal River, Fla., Laurel Tallent holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Central Florida. When she graduates from the College of Law in May 2019, she will also earn the Environmental Law Certificate. Last summer, Tallent studied at Lewis and Clark School of Law in their Animal Law Program under Steven Wise from the Nonhuman Rights Project and Paul Locke, an environmental health scientist and attorney from John Hopkins University. Since May, Tallent has been interning at Jane West Law, where she researches statutes, rules and case law, drafts memos and assists in litigation for various areas, including federal and state environmental law and animal law. From May 2017-April 2018, Tallent interned for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Office of the General Counsel. In this position, she researched statutes, rules and case law in various areas, drafted memos, assisted in constitutional rulemaking and litigation, and drafted motions. During her 1L year, Tallent interned for the Save the Manatee Club, where she worked with and reviewed permits from the Army Corp of Engineers, the Department of Environmental Protection, and the water districts throughout Florida. Tallent is a member of the Environmental Law Society, where she previously served as secretary. She is also a member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) FSU College of Law Chapter and has served as vice president and is currently president. Tallent received the FSU College of Law Vires Award last year for outstanding leadership of a student organization, an award for distinguished achievement from the Animal Law Section of The Florida Bar, a 2018 Advancement of Animal Law Scholarship from the Animal Legal Defense Fund, and was an ALDF New Voices in Animal Law Writing Contest winner. The FSU Law ALDF Chapter also was named the national 2018 Chapter of the Year under Tallent’s leadership. Additionally, Tallent is the founder and president of the new Sustainable Law Society at FSU. If you are interested in hiring Tallent after graduation, visit her LinkedIn profile.  
“In addition to animal law, I became highly interested in sustainability and the zero waste movement during law school. I feel as advocates of the law, we are in a unique position to take what we learn from our cases, clients, experts, and colleagues and transform it in a way that the public can easily understand. We then can use that knowledge to be better advocates, to be better community leaders and to personally grow while leading by example.”
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